Newcastle manager Steve McClaren: 'We're close to making our first signings'
No signings have been made yet by Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, but manager Steve McClaren insists that's all about to change.
In what was the first time he had spoken to northeast England's media since he was appointed as Newcastle's manager in June, McClaren stressed that the club's first signings are imminent, and that owner Mike Ashley is willing to spend the necessary money in the weeks ahead.
"We're close to making our first signings," McClaren said, according to the Guardian. "Believe me, there is a massive willingness from the club to spend. I've come in and looked at the plan, looked at the calibre of players we're targeting and said 'wow.'"
It was reported Wednesday that Newcastle is in advanced negotiations with PSV Eindhoven over Georginio Wijnaldum, who was named Dutch Footballer of the Year following a 2014-15 season in which he notched 14 goals and three assists as PSV captured the Eredivisie title.
McClaren is apparently optimistic that Wijnaldum will be part of Newcastle's preseason tour of the United States, which kicks off this weekend, and the transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £12 million.
"We've talked a lot about the next three transfers being huge, massive, for us," McClaren said. "Let's make sure we get the right players. If we do, then, in a year's time - after the third window - we should have a damn good team and the squad should be on a different level to where we are now. That's purely because we're looking at players above a certain (price) bracket.
"We've put our objectives on the line and Mike Ashley has said: 'Go on, fulfil it.' We're looking for a calibre of player to improve what we've got. But when you go £10-million-plus - to Europa League and Champions League players at top clubs - competition is high."
Supporters staged a protest back in April that was backed by the Newcastle United Supporters Trust, after the club's full accounts for the end of the last financial year revealed more than £34 million sitting in the bank. Newcastle only announced profits of £18.7 million, angering supporters and leaving them wondering why the money wasn't used to strengthen their squad.